The Theory of Knowledge Implicit in Goethe's
World Conception,

Rudolf Steiner(Written 1886; GA 2 / Bn 2 / CW 2)

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The basis of a theory of the Goethean world view, with special reference
to Schiller, as well as an addition to Goethe's “Scientific Writings”
in Kürschner's “German National Literature.”
Almost forty years after his early works on this subject, Rudolf Steiner
wrote: “By putting this before me again today, it appears to be the
epistemological foundation and justification of all that I published
later. It speaks of a way of perceiving that opens the physically
apparent world into the spiritual/intellectual.” Originally
published in German as,
Grundlinien Einer Erkenntnistheorie der Goetheschen
Weltanschauung mit besonderer Ruecksicht auf Schiller.
Zugleich eine Zugabe zu Goethes “Naturwissenschaftlichen
Schriften“ in Kuerschners “Deutsche
National-Litteratur.“

The main sections of the book are:
Preliminary Questions,
Experience, Thought, Knowledge,
The Science of Nature,
The Spiritual/Cultural Sciences,
Conclusion.

Chapter titles include:
Goethe's Science Considered According
to the Method of Schiller,
Definition of the Concept of Experience,
Thinking as a Higher Experience within Experience,
Thought and Consciousness,
The Inner Nature of Thought,
Thought and Perception,
Intellect and Reason,
Cognition and the Ultimate Foundation of Things,
Psychological Cognition, Human Freedom.

The Theory of Knowledge Implicit in Goethe's World Conception,
Anthroposophic Press, New York and Rudolf Steiner Publishing Co.,
London, 1940, 118 pp. plus notes, translated from the second
German edition of 1924 by Olin D. Wannamaker

A Theory of Knowledge Based on Goethe's World Conception,
Anthroposophic Press, New York, 1968, 1979, 124 pp. plus notes,
translated from the second German edition of 1924 by Olin D.
Wannamaker. (This edition appears to be identical in content
to the previous one.)

This book first appeared in 1886. In it, Steiner approaches
the epistemological question, “How Does One Know?” His
point of departure is the more-or-less unexpressed epistemology of
Goethe in his scientific writings and elsewhere. This is a good
introduction to Goethe's methodology.
This First English Edition was designed by Peter Döblin, and
translated by Olin D. Wannamaker.

In this book, first appearing in 1886, Steiner approaches the
epistemological question, how does one know? His point of departure
in the more-or-less unexpressed epistemology of Goethe in his
scientific writings and elsewhere. This is not a textbook on
epistemology, but it is a good introduction to Goethe's methodology.

This edition of The Science of Knowing is a new
translation of Grundlinien einer Erkenntnistheorie der Goetheschen
Weltanschauung mit besonderer Rücksicht auf Schiller
(Bibliographie No. 2), 7th edition GAS 1979, published by the Rudolf
Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland. This translation,
from the original German, is by William Lindeman. A prior translation
is available under the title A Theory of Knowledge, published
by the Anthroposophic Press.